Land use Dataset for the Jazira Region of Syria

This land use dataset complements 13 other datasets as part of a study that compared ancient settlement patterns with modern environmental conditions in the Jazira region of Syria. This study examined settlement distribution and density patterns over the past five millennia using archaeological survey reports and French 1930s 1:200,000 scale maps to locate and map archaeological sites. An archaeological site dataset was created and compared to and modelled with soil, geology, terrain (contour), surface and subsurface hydrology and normal and dry year precipitation pattern datasets; there are also three spreadsheet datasets providing 1963 precipitation and temperature readings collected at three locations in the region. The environmental datasets were created to account for ancient and modern population subsistence activities, which comprise barley and wheat farming and livestock grazing. These environmental datasets were subsequently modelled with the archaeological site dataset, as well as, land use and population density datasets for the Jazira region. Ancient trade routes were also mapped and factored into the model, and a comparison was made to ascertain if there was a correlation between ancient and modern settlement patterns and environmental conditions; the latter influencing subsistence activities. This land use dataset was created to show land use patterns in the Jazira region. Dry farming and grazing activities have sustained human populations in the region for the past nine millennia to the present. The land use dataset is attributed with land use type, other land uses and tertiary land use activities. Additional attributes include soil type, secondary soil type and soil code variables.

Lineage:

Derived from 1:500,000 Map in Mohammed Ilaiwa's thesis 'Contribution to the Knowledge of the Soils of Syria'. Additional information taken from W.J. van Liere: 'Syria - Classification and rational utilization of soils - Report to the government, Soil Survey of the Jezireh.' Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), 1965.Land use map was copied to mylar and scanned to create a polygon coverage of the land use patterns; included is soil attribute information. Each polygon was labeled and attributed with land-use pattern and soil values.